Apparatus for manufacture of type fonts



1951 DE FOREST F. NEELY APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE TYPE FONTS Filed Nov. 8, 1948 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEK Patented Oct. 16, 1e51,

UNITED STA S PATENT OFFICE AHPARA'I U-S' FOB MANUFACTURE OF TYPE FONTS De Forest F. Neely, Kansas City, Mo. Application, November 8, 1948, Serial No. 58,873

3 Claims. (Cl. 101401.5)

1 This invention relates to machines for producing an article of manufacture in the nature of a type font or shuttle forming a part of a typewriting machine commonly referred to in I the field as the Varityper, the primary object being to facilitate the manufacture thereof from the standpoint of pressure, simplicity and cost.

The most important object of the present invention is to provide a machine for forming type fonts having a pair of relatively shiftable die members for receiving the font blank therebetween and exerting extreme pressure thereon, one of the die members having types formed in intaglio for creating raised type upon the blank through flow of the metal from which the blank is made into the types of the die.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a machine for producing type fonts capable of creating the raised type thereon, irrespective of the fact that the font blank is longitudinally arcuate through the provision of a split die having means of relative separation between the parts thereof after the font has-been formed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned character, wherein one of the die members has a plurality of longitudinal ribs formed thereon for automatically forming rib and groove structure on the innermost face of the font while the type face thereof is being formed.

Inthe drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus for manufacturing type fonts and the like made in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, cross sectional-vieW-taken on line IIII of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a substantially central, vertical, cross sectional View taken on line [II-Ill of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed, top plan view of the lowermost die of the. machine.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the segment of a type font manufactured by the machine .forming the subject matter hl ffiqfi and of which has extending upwardly therefrom and fixed rigidly thereto an elongated post l8.

These vertical posts [8 have their longitudinal axes substantially parallel and the ears 20 and 22 of the reciprocable member l2 are provided with openings 24 and 26, respectively, for receiving the posts l8. Thus, posts I8 serve as guide members for the member l2 that slides vertically thereon when the machine is placed in operation.

A tapped opening 28 is formed in the member l2 intermediate the ends thereof for receiving reduced, externally-threaded end 30 of an up wardly-extending rod 32. It is contemplated that the rod 32 have connection with structure for imparting reciprocable movement to the member l'2 upon the posts l8. Since, as will hereinafter be made known, tremendous pressure is necessary, any suitable hydraulic means would constitute the preferred form of the actuating medium for the rod 32. Sincesuch operating mechanism forms no part of this invention, the same has not been shown or detailed.

A die member 34 is mounted upon the lowermost face of the member I2 and welded or otherwise secured thereto intermediate the ends of member l2 in opposed relationship to rod 32. The outermost free face 36 of the die 34 is arcuate for purposes hereafter to be made clear, and a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, longitudinal ribs 38 are formed on arcuate face 36.

Somewhat narrower rib 40 is, also, formed on the arcuate face 36 that extends longitudinally through the length of die 34 and is disposed midway between the ribs 38. The cross sectional contours of ribs 38 and the rib 40 are polygonal, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

'In addition to the laterally-extending, opposed ears l4 and I6, the base, member If} is provided with an upstanding body portion 42 disposed between the upstanding posts l8. Body 42, is substantially U-shaped to present a pair. of polygonal blocks 48 and 5c occupy a portion of the space between the legs 44 and 46.

These blocks 48 and 50 are preferably formed integral with the base section In, and the uppermost faces thereof terminate a short distance below the uppermost free ends of the legs 44 and 46. As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, these blocks 48 and 50 are appreciably narrower than the proximal legs 44 or 46, against which the same are disposed.

The space between the blocks 48 and 50 is normally occupied by an elongated piston 52 that passes freely through a bore 54v formed verti'cally' and centrally throughout the base section In. Piston 52 has its lowermost end disposed within a cylinder 56 forming a part of hydraulic structure for imparting reciprocable movement to the piston 52. The instrumentalities for actuating piston 52 in this manner may be of conventional character and of the kind well known by those skilled in the art; and, therefore, they have not been shown. A reduced head 58 is formed on the uppermost end of the piston 52.

The body 42 carries a pair of opposed plates 68 and 62 that span the distance between the legs 44 and 46 and are secured to the body 42 by means of a plurality of screws or the like 64. Each plate 68 and 62 is, in turn, supplied with a pair of spaced, upturned ears 66 next adjacent each leg 44 and 46, respectively, said ears 66 having elongated, vertical slots 68 formed therein.

A die member broadly designated by the numeral I8 constitutes a pair of substantially identical sections I2 and I4. These sections I2 and 14, when in the operative position illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, form together an arcuate, uppermost surface and a flat lowermost face that rests directly upon the head 58 of piston 52 and upon the uppermost faces of the blocks 48 and 58. Each section I2 and I4 is provided with a pair of opposed pintles I6 next adjacent the lowermost and outermost corner thereof that pass through the corresponding elongated slot 68 for free, sliding and rotative movement therein. The proximal, innermost ends of the two sections I2 and I4 are spaced apart when the die member I8 is in the full line position of Fig. 1, except for the provision of an overlapping, outturned flange I8 that is provided on the section I4 for bridging the distance between the sections I2 and I4.

Three rows of type 88 are formed in intaglio upon the uppermost concave face of the die member I8, these rows of type 88 being substantially parallel and extending longitudinally with re spect to the die member I8. The overlapping flange portion "I8 of the section I4 is, also, provided with identifying serial numbers in intaglio designated by the numeral 82.

Each of the legs 44 and 46 has its innermost and uppermost edge rounded as at 84. A continuous, upturned flange 86 is formed on the two sections I2 and I4 of die members I8 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawing.

In operation, a longitudinally, arcuate blank of metallic material and designated by the numeral 88 is placed upon the uppermost concave surface of the die member I8 immediately below the die member 34. The peripheral dimension of this blank 88 is predetermined to fit snugly within the confines of the upturned, continuous flange 86 when the blank 88 is forced thereinto.

It is understood that, when the machine is'initially placed in operation, with the blank 88 positioned as just described, the sections I2 and" of die I8 will be disposed in the full line position of Fig. l of the drawing, resting upon the blocks 48 and 58. The piston 52 will be restricted sufficiently to permit such positioning of the die member I8.

The reciprocable member I2 is thereupon caused to be moved downwardly, where the convex face 36 thereof contacts and rests upon the concave face of the blank 88. Relatively great pressure is then exerted upon the member I2 and, consequently, upon the die 34 to forcibly press the blank 88 against the type 88,

When such action takes place, the metal forming the blank 88 will readily flow into the type 88 of die member I8 and form on the outermost,

concave face of the blank 88 three rows of raised type 98 forming a part'of the completed shuttle segment broadly designated by the numeral 92 and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing. By the same token, the extreme pressure that is being brought to bear between the dies 34 and I8 will form on that face of the blank 88 opposite to the type 98 a pair of longitudinal grooves 94 and 86.

These grooves, obviously, correspond to the ribs 38 and the face 36 of die member 34. Similarly, the relatively narrow rib 48 of die member 34 will create a longitudinal groove 98 upon the normally innermost face of the type font section 92. 1

It is to be understood and noted in Fig .5, also, that a transverse rib I88 is formed on the normally inermost face of the font section 32 intermediate the ends thereof. The length of this rib I88 is substantially the same as the distance between the two ribs 38 of the die member 34 and traverses the rib 48. Formation of the rib I88 is accomplished by a corresponding groove I82 formed in the face 36 between ribs 38 and shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

As explained in my co-pending application filed on even date herewith and entitled Type Font for Typewriting Machines, now Patent No. 2,523,538, the longitudinal groove 98 is formed in the font section 92 for receiving a second section of the shuttle in the form of an arcuate web-like member for reinforcing the section 92 and serving as a means for mounting the entire shuttle within a typewriting machine.

This web member (not shown) is provided with a small notch intermediate the ends thereof that receives the rib I88 of section 92 to positively position the two sections of the font relative to each other and assure correct disposition of the letters 98 with respect to the mounting means for the shuttle.

As noted in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the outermost faces of all of the letters 98 are fiat. Consequently, once the blank 88 is pressed in place in the manner above described, the finished font section could not be removed from the die I8 if it were not for the sectional characteristic thereof. Thus, in the removing operation, the member I2 is first shifted upwardly to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

Piston 52 is thereupon moved upwardly to strike the lowermost faces of the sections I2 and "I4, causing the-same to move upwardly with respect to the uppermost faces of blocks 48 and 58 and, at the same time, to tip outwardly upon the rounded corners 84 of legs 44 and 46. This action of the piston 52 upon the die member I8 will break loose the completed section 92 from the die member I8, whereupon the machine can be placed in use for producing another font 92.

It is apparent from the foregoing that type fonts of the character illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing can be made quickly and easily through use of the machine just described. The necessity of producing the section 92 into a plurality of smaller segments, as has heretofore been the practice, is unnecessary.

A single strip of material may be used to produce the blank 88; and, when the type 88 is produced' thereon, there is an assurance that each of the three rows thereof is correctly positioned with respect to the remaining rows and that each letter of each row is in perfect aligmnent, both with respect to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axisof the section 92.

The cost of production is lowered appreciably and, when the font itself is placed in use, the operator can be assured that the letters appearing upon the typewritten page will all be in correct alignment and evenly spaced in the proper manner.

By provision of a relatively sturdy structure, there is, also, an assurance that each and every impression made upon the blank 88, on both faces thereof, will be the same on every blank used. Also, the blank 88 cannot be displaced because of the provision of flange 86.

Finally, through elimination of a large number of steps in the process of manufacture, it is possible to produce type shuttles of the character illustrated in a minimum amount of time and with a tremendous saving in labor.

It is manifest that the particular machine forming the subject matter of this invention is subject to many changes and modifications that are well within the spirit of this invention, as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for forming raised type on one face of an arcuate metallic blank, said machine comprising a pair of opposed die members mount-,

ed for relative shifting movement toward and away from each other, said die members having complementary arcuate faces, one of said die members having type formed in intaglio on the arcuate face thereof, for producing said raised type when the blank is pressed between the die members, said one die member being segmental; and means for swingably mounting the segments of the one die member for movement to and from an operative position forming said arcuate face thereof.

2. A machine for forming raised type on one face of an arcuate metallic blank, said machine comprising a pair of opposed die members mounted for relative shifting movement toward and away from each other, said die members having complementary arcuate faces, one of said die members having type formed in intaglio on the arcuate face thereof, for producing said raised type when the blank is pressed between the die members, said one die member including a pair of pivotally mounted segments, and means for swinging said segments on their pivotal axes to break the blank loose from the one die member after said raised type has been formed on the blank.

3. A machine for forming raised typeon one face of an arcuate metallic blank, said machine comprising a pair of opposed die members mounted for relative shifting movement toward and away from each other, said die members having complementary arcuate faces, one of said die members having type formed in intaglio on the arcuate face thereof, forproducing said raised type when the blank is pressed between the die members, said one die member including a pair of pivotally-mounted segments, and means for swinging said segments on their pivotal axes to break the blank loose from the one die member after said raised type has been formed on the blank, said means including a ram normally disposed in underlying relationship to the segments and between the said pivotal axes.

DE FOREST F. NEELY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

